Alpha-Phonics: A Primer For Beginning Readers (Plastic Comb)

by Samuel L. Blumenfeld (Author) "Sam sat..." (more)
Key Phrases: practice sentences, final consonant blends, irregular pronunciations (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Probably the simplest, most effective and most reasonably priced systematic, intensive phonics reading instruction program available today.
Highly endorsed by leading homeschooling product reviewers Cathy Duffy and Mary Pride.
Used very successfully by hundreds of thousands for over 25 years by parents, tutors and teahcers.
Works exceptionally well iln teaching English as a Second Language.
For additional detailed information and testimonmial letters and videos go to www.alplha-phonics.com
Originally published in print version in 1983 --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Plastic Comb: 168 pages
• Publisher: The Paradigm Company (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941995003
• ISBN-13: 978-0941995009
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,371 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't live without it, April 21, 2002

By	Jill Barrett (Independence, VA United States) - See all my reviews

I have taught three children to read with this book, and am thrilled to be able to buy a plastic comb-bound version for my fourth child, which hopefully will also last through #5 and #6. Two of my children learned to read using this program between the ages of four and five, one between the ages of five and six. My current five-year-old is developmentally delayed, and so she is beginning phonics later than some of my other children, but I am confident that she will be reading some when she starts kindergarten in the fall.

Forget the "Phonics Game" and "Hooked on Phonics" and all those other pricey, gimmicky phonics programs. This thirty-dollar book is ALL you need, and it will take no more than 15 minutes per day to teach any child to read. If your child does not yet recognize all letters and know all phonograms (letter sounds), you can use the printed alphabet at the beginning of the book to drill on these first. By lesson THREE of Alpha-Phonics your child will be able to read a couple of sentences and be thrilled to death with his or her progress.

Alpha-Phonics is proof that the best isn't necessarily the most expensive.

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the best [money] you will invest., May 4, 2002

By	Gary Kuwano (Santa Clara, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I am writing this so that it may help another struggling reader.

Bottom line is that it helped my first grader greatly accelerate her reading skills. At two months into the school year she was tested at a level 2. Our school district standard is level 16 by the end of first grade. Her teacher said that there would be an outside chance she would be at a level 12 by the end of the school year. My daughter though bright and motivated, does not have an aptitude for reading and possibly has a slight case of dyslexia. When she tried to read she would fall into tears with frustration. Consequently she was losing interest in reading.

We started this book in November spending about 30-60 minutes, 2-3 exercises per day with just reading, no writing. We finished the book in January. She then started reading other books for 30-60 minutes per day. She was tested again in February at a level 6. She has since been advancing at almost a level a week. By the end of April she was reading and comprehending level 12 books with ease. Recall that the teacher said in October she would be lucky to be at a level 12 by the end of the school year. She still has 6 weeks left in the school year.

This book has made a difference because it lays a phonic foundation in an organized, comprehensive manner with exercises that continually reenforce the learnings in each lesson. Exercises in subsequent lessons review previous material so that review of previous lessons were generally not needed. It starts out very simply so that the child is not overwhelmed and immediately feels a sense of accomplishment. Read the lesson plans at the end of the book as they are helpful for the parent.

After completing the book, your child will have the skills to sound out words on her own. As you go through the book with her, you will develop a common phonetic language that you can use to help her with new words and improve her phonics skills. The book can be a little dry so spicing it up a bit keeps the interest up. I'd deliberately mispronounce key words in the exercise and let her correct me.

After completing this book, let your child loose to read, read, read. My daughter now enjoys reading and does so at every opportunity. The other great thing as a parent is no more tears of frustration.

Is this book for you? If you and your child are motivated, this is the best...investment you will make.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a favorite in our family!, May 12, 1999

By A Customer

We are currently teaching our fifth son to read using Alpha-phonics. We used Alpha-phonics to teach each of his older brothers as well. We can't say enough good about this book! It is easy to use and inexpensive. It introduces easy sentences right away, which is a great motivator. We have found that it works best for us to use Alpha-phonics alone at first, and then later add some phonics flash cards. (We use Romalda Spaldings phonogram cards.) This combination is all we have ever needed. We've been homeschooling now for 9 years, and with most subjects we find that one child loves one curriculum, and the next child hates it and needs something else for his different learning style. Alpha-phonics is the only book that everyone has loved! I highly recommend it.